U.S. and Britain Transfer Jewish Refugees from Neutral Countries to Overseas Lands

September 28, 1943

Johannesburg (Sep. 27)

Prime Minister Jan Christian Smuts today assured a Jewish labor delegation that Jewish refugees are being taken from neutral countries on neutral ships to overseas lands and that this work “is being carried out actively by the British and U.S. Governments,” without publicity.

Questioned as to the possibility of large numbers of refugees being admitted to South Africa, Gen. Smuts said that this country is already harboring many war refugees and evacuees. “The food situation and other pressing local problems make it difficult to admit more,” he declared. He emphasized that by moving refugees from neutral countries, the governments of the United States and Britain are enabling the neutrals to admit other refugees from Nazi-held territory and the Axis satellite countries.